John Capgrave was born in 1393, probably at Lynn, Norfolk, where he died in
1464. He was ordained a priest in 1416/17 and studied theology in London
(1417-1422) and Cambridge (1422-1427). He became an Augustinian friar.

The Chronicle manuscript is a holograph which was probably completed in
1462 or 1463, just before his death. The two major sources he used are the
Chronicon Pontificum et Imperatorum of Martinus Polonus, and the
St. Alban's Chronicle of Thomas Walsingham. Capgrave's English
reflects little direct influence from his Latin sources, but there are a
few constructions, such as absolutes, that have been taken over directly.

The Sermon was preached in 1422, but
written down later. The manuscript is apparently a holograph.